It’s Saturday morning – time to rise, shine and study the latest Anytime Goalscorer and Clean Sheet odds that have kept Paddy awake all night compiling.
But don’t feel sorry for him. It’s his job, after all.
And so is tempting new customers with enhanced offers, so that’s where we’ll start.
Two of the Gameweek’s three most transfered-in players happen to be from Liverpool. If all those managers are expecting Adam Lallana and Divock Origi-based joy, Paddy’s offer of 7-1 on the Reds emerging victorious from Monday’s Merseyside derby at Goodison could well lighten the mood even further.
Can Chelsea make it 11 league wins on the spin? Facing a Palace side that’s won just once in seven should help. Paddy’s 5-1 on yet another Blues victory looks decidedly generous.
You can also get 6-1 on Man U beating West Brom, while the even more likely event that is Spurs beating Burnley is on offer at 4-1.
And finally, the match of the Gameweek – Man City at home to Arsenal.
Pep Guardiola is struggling with the rigours of Premier League life at the moment, but even he would be tempted by the 6-1 he could get on his boys sticking it to the Gunners if he was really, really, really not allowed to bet on such things, that is.
Arsenal, meanwhile, were in a very good place before their midweek loss at Everton, with three straight wins and 11 goals scored. City’s defence is the wrong side of desperate, so if you think the Wenger boys can re-find their mojo, the 12-1 on offer looks almost irresistible.
Be sure to check the terms and conditions on all those offers and, of course, we should state that these specials are only available to those aged 18 or over. And if you’re going to wager, please always gamble responsibly.
ANYTIME GOALSCORER ODDS – GAMEWEEK 17
| Player | Team | Odds |
| Kane | TOT | 1.36 |
| Son | TOT | 1.72 |
| Costa | CHE | 1.72 |
| Ibrahimovic | MUN | 1.90 |
| Iheanacho | MCI | 1.90 |
| Defoe | SUN | 2.00 |
| Bony | STO | 2.10 |
| Eriksen | TOT | 2.20 |
| Negredo | MID | 2.20 |
| Carroll | WHU | 2.40 |
| Rashford | MUN | 2.40 |
| Slimani | LEI | 2.50 |
| Vardy | LEI | 2.50 |
| Origi | LIV | 2.50 |
| Firmino | LIV | 2.50 |
| Sanchez | ARS | 2.60 |
| Walcott | ARS | 2.60 |
| Benteke | CRY | 2.62 |
Harry Kane, Diego Costa and Christian Eriksen were our top three in this week’s captaincy poll and whaddyaknow? Two of them have been handed the shortest odds in the Anytime Goalscorer market.
Kane (1.36) has drawn a blank for two consecutive Gameweeks, but the idea that he’ll fall short again seems highly unlikely when Burnley’s truly awful away record is added to the mix.
The Clarets have managed one – count it, one – point from seven road trips this season. That came when they gave Jose Mourinho a taste of his own medicine (flavour notes: bus hints, with motes of bus) in a 90-minute homage to the parking of public transport during Gameweek 10.
Spurs have won their last three home matches, banging in 11 goals while they’ve been about it, thanks in part to the resurgent form of Eriksen (2.20).
Further down the list comes Andy Carroll, who is priced at 2.40 to help dismantle hapless Hull City. Fantasy managers haven’t exactly busted a gut to get the big fella in, whereas Michail Antonio is the 10th most popular acquisition of the Gameweek. He’s at 2.80 to score – and he’s done that twice in the last five matches.
Priced only slightly lower than that is Alexis Sanchez (2.60). The Arsenal man has fallen out of favour for the armband this week, but nine of his 12 league goals this season have come away from home and Man City’s defence is so obliging that it would be almost surprising if he doesn’t add to that tally at the Etihad.
More than 240,000 FPL bosses have bought into the delights of Adam Lallana (3.30), making him the Gameweek’s top transfer target. The Liverpool midfielder is certainly in sparkling form, with three goals in his two starts since returning from injury.
The Merseyside derby often defies form, but Everton have kept just two clean sheets at Goodison all season, and none at all home or away for the past six matches.
Lallana looks as well-placed as anyone to cash in.
CLEAN SHEET ODDS – GAMEWEEK 17
| Team | Odds |
| Tottenham | 1.80 |
| Manchester United | 2.10 |
| West Ham | 2.29 |
| Chelsea | 2.40 |
| Middlesbrough | 2.60 |
| Liverpool | 2.75 |
| Southampton | 2.87 |
| Sunderland | 3.00 |
| Stoke | 3.10 |
| Bournemouth | 3.20 |
Clean sheets have been scarce, and Fantasy managers have certainly been splashing the cash anywhere but at the back this week – among defenders, only Bournemouth’s Nathan Ake and Chelsea stalwart Cesar Azpilicueta make it into the top ten transfers-in.
The Cherries have kept five clean sheets this season, four of which have come at home. Even factoring in the unpredictability of a derby match at home to Southampton, the 3.20 you can get on a Bournemouth shut-out looks good.
The Saints have drawn a blank in their last two away days and are without leading scorer Charlie Austin, which makes the case for the Bournemouth defence even stronger. But Southampton are hardly mugs either – they’ve kept four cleanies in their last five outings – so the 2.87 on them for a south coast shutdown is as generous as you’re likely to get.
Stoke City host Leicester City and there’s 3.10 available on the home team frustrating the Foxes. Leicester currently travel about as well as a pint of Guinness on a Spacehopper – they’ve scored just twice in their last three away matches, losing them all to the combined might of Watford, Sunderland and Bournemouth.
Mark Hughes’ men, meanwhile, have kept consecutive home clean sheets and three in their last four matches overall.
